Michael Shapiro is the CEO and Publisher of TheAlternativePress.com.  He is a graduate of Rutgers College, Rutgers University and Stanford Law School. After five years of practicing law in New York City, in October 2008, Mike started an all-online objective daily local newspaper for his town, New Providence, New Jersey, as well as surrounding towns of Summit and Berkeley Heights. In January 2012, Mike began licensing sites to people who wanted to start online newspapers in their own town.  In January 2014, Mike began offering online local newspaper franchises.  Today, there are over 30 franchises in New Jersey and several in Pennsylvania.